Washington, DC – Today, the Alliance for Aviation Across America released a letter from Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter to
President Obama asking the administration to recognize the vital importance of general aviation for the economy and communities across the state of Idaho and country.
Governor Otter specifically highlighted the need to protect this industry against burdensome taxes that would harm the general aviation industry and negatively impact the economy.
Governor Otter joins a growing list of state and local officials that have highlighted the need to protect general aviation. In February, over 100 mayors from 48 states sent a letter to President Obama denouncing attacks on general aviation, and calling on the President to highlight the importance of the industry for communities around the country. In addition, 37 states around the country have passed proclamations recognizing the importance of aviation and general aviation in particular.
The letter from Governor C.L “Butch” Otter to President Obama is below. Additional information on the economic importance of general aviation can be found here.
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
I write to ask for your support in recognizing the vital importance of general aviation. It has a fundamental role in our nation’s economy – especially to rural and lightly populated states like Idaho. General aviation supports more than 1 million jobs nationwide, and needs your help now.
As one of the few manufacturing sectors that contribute to the balance of trade, general aviation has been hit hard by the economic downturn with the loss of more than 20,000 aviation-sector employees.
For all states, including Idaho, general aviation represents a critical connection to economic opportunity and global markets. What’s more, general aviation plays a crucial public role every day through crop protection, disaster response, law enforcement, or critically needed services such as blood, organ or patient transportation.
The bottom line is that raising taxes on critical sectors of our economy will do us more harm than good by putting more jobs at risk. I encourage you to join me in opposing the new “user fee” taxes that will be placed on general aviation operators.
Thank you for keeping our concerns and the concerns of our citizens and businesses in mind, and for your positive consideration of this issue.
As Always – Idaho, “Esto Perpetua”
C.L.”Butch”Otter
Governor of Idaho
